Vibratory separator screen

Abstract

A support strip has been invented for supporting part of a screen used in a vibratory shaker, the support strip having a support body having spaced-apart ends spaced-apart sides, and a top surface, and at least one hump, raised portion or upturned finger projecting above the top surface of the support body and a support beneath said at least one hump, etc. The support may be entirely beneath the hump, etc. or part thereof may project beyond the hump, etc. The present invention also discloses a variety of screens and screen assemblies with such structure.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A screen apparatus for a vibratory shaker device, the screen apparatus comprising 
       screening material with an undulating shape with a series of raised portions, and  
       at least one support strip beneath said screening material and in contact therewith, said at least one support strip between one half inch to three inches in width and between one thirty-second of an inch and one-eighth of an inch in thickness,  
       said at least one support strip having at least one raised part thereof with a shape corresponding to a shape of a raised portion of the screening material, said at least one raised part positioned beneath and supporting said raised portion, and  
       the at least one raised part thereof having a support thereunder.  
     
     
       2. The screen apparatus of claim  1  wherein the support is secured to the at least one raised part thereof. 
     
     
       3. The screen apparatus of claim  1  wherein the support has a series of holes therethrough for fluid flow therethrough. 
     
     
       4. The screen apparatus of claim  1  wherein the at least one raised part defines an interior space, the support is disposed within said interior space, and the support occupies less than all said interior space. 
     
     
       5. The screen apparatus of claim  4  wherein the interior space has a top area, the support has a top surface, the top surface of the support is spaced apart from the at least one raised part, and the top surface of the support defining a lower limit of the top area. 
     
     
       6. The screen apparatus of claim  1  wherein said at least one support strip has a strip width and said support has a support width which is less than said strip width. 
     
     
       7. A separatory apparatus comprising 
       a vibratory shaker device,  
       a screen apparatus mounted on the vibratory shaker device and comprising  
       screening material with an undulating shape with a series of raised portions, and  
       at least one support strip beneath said screening material and in contact therewith, said at least one support strip between one half inch to three inches in width and between one thirty-second of an inch and one-eighth of an inch in thickness,  
       said at least one support strip having at least one raised part thereof with a shape corresponding to a shape of a raised portion of the screening material, said at least one part positioned beneath and supporting said raised portion, and  
       the at least one raised part thereof having a support thereunder.  
     
     
       8. A screen assembly for screening material in a vibratory screening machine, said assembly comprising a frame, a plurality of apertures in said frame, spaced frame members on opposite sides of said plurality of apertures, a screen formed in an undulating shape with elongated substantially parallel ridges having sloping sides, troughs formed between said sloping sides for conducting material which is being screened longitudinally of said troughs while it is being screened, undersides on said troughs, said undersides of said troughs being secured to said spaced frame members on the opposite sides of a plurality of said apertures with said ridges and troughs overlying said plurality of apertures, said elongated ridges having first end portions, said troughs having second end portions, and sealing means for sealing said first end portions of said elongated ridges against entry of material which is being screened while maintaining said second end portions unsealed to permit passage of said material being screened therethrough, and 
       at least one support beneath at least one of said ridges,  
       said at least one support within a space defined by a lower surface of said at least one of said ridges and an upper surface of the frame.  
     
     
       9. A plurality of screen assemblies for mounting on a vibratory screening machine for screening material, each assembly comprising a plate, a plurality of apertures in said plate, elongated spaced plate members on opposite sides of said plurality of apertures, a screen formed in an undulating shape with elongated substantially parallel ridges, troughs formed between said ridges of each of said screen assemblies for conducting material longitudinally of said troughs while it is being screened, and undersides on said troughs, said undersides of said troughs being secured to said elongated spaced plate members on the opposite sides of a plurality of said apertures, each screen assembly being mounted adjacent to another screen assembly with said ridges and troughs of adjacent assemblies being in alignment so that material which is being screened can pass longitudinally through the aligned troughs of said adjacent screen assemblies, and 
       at least one support beneath at least one of said ridges,  
       said at least one support within a space defined by a lower surface of said at least one of said ridges and an upper surface of the plate.  
     
     
       10. A plurality of screen assemblies for mounting on a vibratory screening machine for screening material, each assembly comprising a frame, a plurality of apertures in said frame, elongated spaced frame members on opposite sides of said plurality of apertures, a screen formed in an undulating shape with elongated substantially parallel ridges, troughs formed between said ridges of each of said screen assemblies for conducting material which is being screened longitudinally of said troughs while it is being screened, and undersides on said troughs, said undersides of said troughs being secured to said spaced frame members on the opposite sides of a plurality of said apertures with said ridges over-lying said plurality of apertures, each assembly being mounted adjacent to another screen assembly with said ridges and troughs of adjacent assemblies being in alignment so that material which is being screened can pass longitudinally through the aligned troughs of said adjacent screen assemblies, and 
       at least one support beneath at least one of said ridges,  
       said at least one support within a space defined by a lower surface of said at least one of said ridges and an upper surface of the frame.  
     
     
       11. A screen assembly for screening material in a vibratory screening machine, said assembly comprising a plate having a length and a width, an area defined by said length and width, a plurality of plate members on said plate, a plurality of apertures defined by said plate members, a multiple-layer screen formed in an undulating shape to provide a screening area which is larger than said area of said plate, said multiple layer screen including a plurality of elongated alternating parallel ridges and troughs, said ridges further including side walls extending toward said plate and defining said troughs for conducting material which is being screened longitudinally of said troughs while it is being screened, undersides on said plurality of troughs, said undersides of said plurality of troughs being secured to said plate members where said undersides of said troughs overlie said plate members, said plurality of ridges which comprise said screening area which is larger than the area of said plate overlying said plurality of apertures, said screen comprising an undulating screening screen and an apertured plate formed in the same undulating shape as said screening screen and located in underlying relationship thereto and secured to said plate, said elongated ridges having first end portions which are sealed against entry of material which is being screened, and said troughs having second end portions which are unsealed, and 
       at least one support beneath at least one of said ridges,  
       said at least one support within a space defined by a lower surface of said at least one of said ridges and an upper surface of the plate.  
     
     
       12. A screen assembly for screening material in a vibratory screening machine, said assembly comprising a plate having a length and a width, an area defined by said length and width, a plurality of plate members on said plate, a plurality of apertures defined by said plate members, a multiple-layer screen formed in an undulating shape to provide a screening area which is larger than said area of said plate, said multiple layer screen including a plurality of elongated alternating parallel ridges and troughs, said ridges further including side walls extending toward said plate and defining said troughs for conducting material which is being screened longitudinally of said troughs while it is being screened, undersides on said plurality of troughs, said undersides of said plurality of troughs being secured to said plate members where said undersides of said troughs overlie said plate members, said plurality of ridges which comprise said screening area which is larger than the area of said plate overlying said plurality of apertures, said elongated ridges have first end portions which are sealed against entry of material which is being screened, and said troughs have second end portions which are unsealed, and 
       at least one support beneath at least one of said ridges,  
       said at least one support within a space defined by a lower surface of said at least one of said ridges and an upper surface of the plate.  
     
     
       13. A screen assembly for screening material in a vibratory screening machine, said assembly comprising a plate having a length and a width, an area defined by said length and width, a plurality of plate members on said plate, a plurality of apertures defined by said plate members, a multiple-layer screen formed in an undulating shape to provide a screening area which is larger than said area of said plate, said multiple layer screen including a plurality of elongated alternating parallel ridges and troughs, said ridges further including side walls extending toward said plate and defining said troughs for conducting material which is being screened longitudinally of said troughs while it is being screened, undersides on said plurality of troughs, said undersides of said plurality of troughs being secured to said plate members where said undersides of said trough overlie said plate members, said plurality of ridges which comprise said screening area which is larger than the area of said plate overlying said plurality of apertures, said screen comprising an undulating base screen of relatively large mesh, an undulating top screening screen of fine mesh, and an undulating intermediate screening screen of less fine mesh than said top screen, said intermediate screen being located between said base screen and said top screen, said elongated ridges have first end portions which are sealed against entry of material which is being screened, and said troughs have second end portions which are unsealed, and 
       at least one support beneath at least one of said ridges,  
       said at least one support within a space defined by a lower surface of said at least one of said ridges and an upper surface of the plate.  
     
     
       14. A screen assembly for screening material in a vibratory screening machine comprising an undulating apertured plate having ridges and troughs between said ridges, and a screen formed in the same configuration as said apertured plate and bonded in complementary mating relationship thereto, open ends on said ridges and said troughs, and means for sealing said open ends of said ridges while permitting said open ends of said troughs to remain unsealed, and 
       at least one support beneath at least one of said ridges,  
       said at least one support within a space defined by a lower surface of said at least one of said ridges and an upper surface of the undulating apertured plate.  
     
     
       15. A screen for screening material in a vibratory screening machine comprising a coarse screen and a fine screen bonded thereto, said fine and coarse screens being formed into an undulating shape having substantially parallel ridges and troughs between said ridges for conducting material being screened in a direction longitudinally of said troughs while said material is being screened, said ridges having first ends, seals sealing said first ends of said ridges, and said troughs having second ends while are unsealed, and 
       at least one support beneath at least one of said ridges,  
       said at least one support within a space defined by a lower surface of said at least one of said ridges and an upper surface of the undulating shape of said fine and coarse screens.